Draft rigging for railway vehicles



Feb. 28, 1961 w. J. METZGER 2,973,104

DRAFT RIGG-ING FOR RAILWAY VEHICLES Filed Jan. 28, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. WILLIAM J. MET ZGER ATTORNEY Feb. 28, 1961 w. J. METZGER DRAFT RIGGING FOR RAILWAY VEHICLES 3 Sheets-Sheet. 3

Filed Jan. 28, 1954 zed m m m w.

WILLIAM J. METZGER A TTORNEY DRAFT RIGGING FOR RAILWAY VEHICLES William J. Metzger, East Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to National Malleable and Steel Castings Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Jan. 28, 1954, Ser. No. 406,828

12 Claims. (Cl. 213-69) This invention relates to draft rigging for railway vehicles and more particularly to a coupler shank and draft gear yoke construction to permit rotation of the coupler about its longitudinal axis.

It is usual practice in dumping loaded freight cars of the open top or hopper type containing ore, coal, etc., to pass one or two cars over a rotary type car dumper. Such cars, either singly or in pairs, are uncoupled from the train at the base of the inclined track leading to the car dumper and are hauled up the incline by a cable or Barney car to the proper position on the cradle of the machine. After a car has been dumped, the succeeding car to be dumped is hauled up the incline and it pushes the empty car from the cradle, whereupon the empty car coasts down a grade and is subsequently switched to the yard where the empty cars of the train are coupled together.

My invention eliminates the necessity of uncoupling and separating loaded cars from the train and hauling them onto the car damper. The invention permits dumping of cars Without separating them from the train. Thus the entire train is passed through the car dumper and as the cars reach the cradle of the dumper they are rotated about a horizontal axis passing through the longitudinal center lines of the car couplers to unload their contents and then are rotated to normal position. This considerably shortens the time required to unload a train of cars and results in considerable saying in cost.

More specifically, my invention provides a coupler shank and yoke construction which permits the vehicle to which the device is applied to be rotated at least 180 about the longitudinal center line of the coupler shank. Preferably, one end of the vehicle is provided with a coupler having conventional or non-rotary attachment thereto, while the other end is provided with the rotatable coupler. In assembling a train of these vehicles, a rotatable coupler is always coupled with a non-rotatable coupler. In this manner, upon the completion of each dumping operation the couplers will always be disposed in upright or normal position.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a coupler shank and yoke construction which permits vehicles to be rotated at least 180 during car dumping operations while the vehicles remain coupled in train.

Another object is to provide a coupler shank and, yoke connection which permits the coupler to rotate relative to the yoke.

A further object is to provide a coupler shank and yoke connection which, While permitting the coupler to rotate about its longitudinal axis independently of the. yoke, permits the use of a conventional draft gear with the yoke.

A still further object is to provide a coupler shank and yoke connection which permits rotation of the coupler about its longitudinal axis and which is easy to assemble and disassemble.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be 2,973,104 Fatented Feb. 28, 1961 ice apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a horizontal sectional View showing an embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 2a is a horizontal sectional view taken along line 2a "2a of Fig. 2.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional vertical view taken along line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the pivot pin support.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a draft gear yoke embodying the invention.

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of the yoke shown in Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings there is shown the car underframe comprising a pair of longitudinal members 10 having portions 12 which are spaced apart the usual distance to receive a conventional draft gear (shown in dot-dash). At their forward ends the members are flared as at 12a to form portions 12b which are spaced apart a greater amount than portions 12. Transverse abutments 14 are provided on portions 12b and form the front stop lugs of the draft gear pocket 13 located between the underframe members 10. Abutments 14 are suitably reinforced by ribs 16 which merge with frame portions which are spaced apart a lesser amount than portions 12b. The forward ends of frame portions 120 are bridged at their lower ends by an integral spring carrying member 13 comprising front wall 18a, rear wall 18b, and bottom Wall 18c. Carrier springs 20 are disposed within member 18 and supported on the springs is the coupler carrier member 22 on which the coupler shank 24 rests.

The yoke 26 to which the coupler shank 24 is connected for rotational movement about its longitudinal center line or axis comprises at its forward end a head or shell portion 26a having a cylindrical inner surface 26b which is concentric about the longitudinal axis of the yoke. Head portion 26a is formed with an inwardly extending annular flange 260 which defines opening 28 through which shank 24 extends.

Rotatably mounted within the yoke head 26a is a cylindrical member 29 having an outer surface 29a for engagement with surface 26b on the yoke head. Rotary member 29 engages flange 260 to limit forward movement of the member relative to the yoke. Member 29 has a generally rectangular opening extending therethrough to receive the coupler shank 2.4 which is pivotally connected to the member by means of a pin 30 to enable horizontal angling of the coupler relative to the yoke. The coupler shank shown is that of the proposed A.A.R. Type F interlocking coupler, which allows for vertical as well as horizontal angling of the coupler. Within the pin receiving opening in the coupler shank is the bearing block 32 which is in engagement with pin 30 and with the shank, the engaging surfaces between the block and shank being spherical. The end surface 34 of the shank is spherical and engages a complementary surface 36 on the forward side of follower 38. The rear ward side of follower 38 is recessed as at 40 to receive the draft gear.

Pin 30 preferably is the standard pin that is used in the aforementioned A.A.R. Type F interlocking coupler. Pin 30 is supported within the confines of rotary memher 2 9 by means of support member 42, the body of which is cylindrical in shape. The underside of the yoke head is recessed to receive the upper portion 42a of the support member. Portion 42a has its top surface 42b cylindrically curved about the longitudinal axis of the yoke in the same manner as surface 26b in the yoke head and thus forms a continuation of surface 26b. This permits free rotation of pin 3% with rotary member 29 relative to the yoke head inner surface 26b during car dumping operations.

The yoke head 26a is formed on its underside with a depending box-like portion comprising front wall 44, rear wall 46 and side walls 48 for housing the support member 42. Front and rear walls 44- and 46 are provided with transversely extending shoulders 50 on which rest the ears S2 of support member 42. The support member has an opening 54 for receiving a bolt member which extends through walls 44 and 46 and locks the support member in place. The support member is applied to the yoke in a position 90 removed from. that shown in Figs. 2 and 2a, in which the ends of cars 52. lie adjacent to but clear of side walls 48. Member 42, while in this position, is raised until ears 52 are disposed at a level just above that of shoulders after which it may be rotated 90 to the position shown in the drawing. Member 42 is preferably recessed as at 42c for receiving a suitable implement for facilitating the application of the member to the yoke.

The car underframe is tied together by means of yoke support 56 which bridges portions 12c and is suitably secured thereto. Yoke support 56 comprises side walls 56a and bottom wall 56b which form a channel-shaped well for receiving the lower part of the yoke, as seen in Fig. 4. It will be understood that pivot pin 30 and its support 42 are applied to the yoke prior to the application of yoke support 56 to the underframe. A slight clearance as at 53 normally exists between the box portion of the yoke and bottom wall 56b of support 56. However, upon the application to the yoke by the coupler of a downwardly directed component of force the box portion may engage support 56 to limit downward movement of the assembly.

Extending rearwardly from the yoke head 26a are the top and bottom strap-s 60 and 62, respectively, the top strap being in engagement with top wall 12d of the car underframe. These straps converge rearwardly of follower 38 to form top and bottom portions 60a and 62a which are of normal spacing. The yoke straps commencing at a point to the rear of the converging portions and extending to the head portion 26a are considerably widened as at 63 to assure adequate strength under pulling or draft forces. The yoke and draft gear are supported by transverse plate member 64- secured to the underframe.

It will be apparent that my construction permits rotation of the coupler about its longitudinal axis in either direction, the yoke remaining stationary relative to the vehicle uuderframe as the coupler, rotary member 29 and pin 30 rotate. As may be seen in Fig. 4, the bottom yoke strap 62 extends between side walls 56a of yoke support 56. Thus engagement between strap 62 and walls 56a in conjunction with the engagement between top strap 60 and top wall 12d of the underframe will hold the yoke stationary upon rotation of the coupler during dumping operations. It will be understood that since the coupler shank is rectangular in section, the carrier member 22 will be depressed through compression of springs 20 as the coupler is rotated about its axis.

In draft the coupler force is transmitted through pin 30 to member 29 and thence against flange 26c of the yoke to pull the latter forward against the resistance of the draft gear. Thus in draft, the yoke will move forwardly while fol-lower 38 remains in contact with front stop lugs 14. Adequate clearance as at 66 is provided between the opposing tapered surfaces 68 and 70 on the yoke and follower, respectively, to permit the required amount of forward movement of the yoke in draft.

In butf the coupler shank 24, rotary member 29 and follower 38 move rearwardly relative to the yoke 26, the latter being limited from moving rearwardly by engagement between ribs 16 of the underframe and tapered side portions 26d of the yoke head 26a. Rotary member 29 is carried rearwardly by pin 39 but no buffing forces are applied either to the member or to the pin. The end surface 34 of the coupler shank transmits the buffing forces directly to follower 38 and thence to the draft gear. It will be observed that a clearance as at 72 exists between follower 38 and rotary member 29.

My invention is preferably applied to one end of a railway vehicle only and the rotatable coupler must therefore be coupled to a non-rotatable coupler of an adjacent car. This is no way interferes with the dumping of vehicles in train, but assures that the couplers will always return to upright position after a car has been dumped and returned to normal position.

The terms and expressions which I have employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and I have no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but recognize that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

What I claim is:

1. In a railway draft rigging a yoke, the forward end of said yoke having a cylindrical inner surface extending longitudinally of the yoke, a rotatable member within the forward end of said yoke in engagement with said surface, and a coupler shank pivotally connected to said member.

2. In combination a yoke, means in the forward end of said yoke rotatable relative to the yoke about an axis extending longitudinally of the yoke, said means having an opening for receiving a coupler shank, and a coupler shank extending into said opening and being operatively connected to said means, said yoke having abutment means for engagement with said means to limit forward movement of the latter relative to the yoke.

3. In a railway draft rigging a yoke having a head portion, said head portion having an opening for receiving a coupler shank, a member in said head portion and being rotatable relative thereto about an axis extending longitudinally of the yoke, a coupler shank extending into said opening and being operatively connected to said member, and means on said yoke for engagement with said member to limit movement of the member in a direction forwardly of the yoke.

4. In a railway draft rigging a yoke having a head portion, a coupler shank, and means connecting said shank to said yoke for rotational movement of the shank about its longitudinal axis, said means comprising a rotatable member in said head portion having a cylindrical outer surface engaging a complemental surface in the head portion, said member having an opening into which said shank extends, and a pivot pin carried by said member and extending through said shank for pivotally connecting said member and said shank.

5. In a railway draft rigging a yoke, a member in said yoke adapted for rotation about an axis extending longitudinally of the yoke, said member having an opening for receiving a coupler shank, a coupler shank extending into said opening, a pivot pin joining said shank to said member and being rotatable with the shank and member, said pin being vertically disposed when said coupler is in upright position, and means carried by said yoke for supporting said pin when the latter is in vertical position.

6. In a railway draft rigging a yoke having a head portion for receiving a coupler shank, said head portion having a cylindrical inner surface, a member within said head portion engaging said surface and being rotatable relative to said yoke, said member having an opening for receiving a coupler shank, a pivot pin for connecting said member to a coupler shank, said head portion having an opening through which said pin is applied to said member, and a pin supporting element received in said last-named opening, said element having a curved surface which forms a continuation of said surface in said head portion.

7. In a railway draft rigging a yoke, a rotary member Within the forward end of said yoke adapted for rotation about an axis extending longitudinally of the yoke, said rotary member having an opening extending therethrough, a coupler shank received in said opening, a follower member engaging the rear end surface of said shank, pivot means connecting said shank and rotary member, and means on the yoke for limiting movement of the rotary member in a direction forwardly of the yoke.

8. In a coupler shank and yoke connection a yoke having a head portion, said head portion having a cylindrically curved internal surface, a rotatable member in said head portion engaging said surface, said member having a pivot pin opening extending therethrough, a pin in said opening, and means carried by said yoke for supporting said pin, said means comprising an element having an upper surface curved to form a continuation of said yoke surface, said element having ears for engagement with shoulders on said yoke for supporting said element.

9. In a coupler shank and yoke connection a yoke .having a head portion, said head portion having a cylindrically curved internal surface extending longitudinally of the yoke, said head portion having an opening in the lower end thereof for applying a pivot pin to said connection, and an element extending into said opening for supporting a pivot pin, said element having an upper surface curved to form a continuation of said yoke surface, said element having ears for supporting the element in said yoke, and means for locking said element in place.

10. In a rotary coupler arrangement, a sill, a striker receiving the sill and secured thereto, a coupler having a head and a shank, the shank being disposed to extend into the striker and sill, a draft gear, said gear having a yoke and a front follower, a substantially cylindricalv collar rotatably positioned in a cylindrical cavity of said yoke, a boss extending from the front surface of the front follower, said boss defining a spherical cavity, and end of the shank having formed thereon a spherical surface disposed within said spherical cavity, and pin means connecting the shank and the collar, whereby said shank and collar are free to rotate within said cylindrical cavity.

11. In a rotary coupler arrangement, a sill securable to a car body, a striker casting, said sill being telescoped within said casting and secured thereto, a coupler comprising a coupler head and a shank, a draft gear comprising a yoke having straps thereon receiving a spring unit, rear abutments on the sill engaging the spring unit, a front follower disposed Within the yoke and engaged by said spring unit, front stop lugs integrally formed with the striker casting and engaging the front face of the follower, a boss extending from the front face of the follower intermediate said front stop lugs and defining a general spherical cavity thereon, a collar rotatably received within the yoke, said shank being telmcoped within said collar and secured thereto by pin means, a spherical surface 101! the rear extremity of the shank received within said cavity.

12. In a rotary coupler arrangement, a sill securable to a car body, a striker, said sill being disposed within the striker and secured thereto, a coupler comprising a coupling head and a shank, a draft gear comprising a yoke having straps thereon extending longitudinally of the arrangement and receiving a spring unit, ,a front follower disposed within the yoke and engaging the front portion of the spring unit, a cavity of generally spherical shape formed on the front face of the follower, rear stop lugs on the sill engaging the rear portion of the follower, front stop lugs on the striker engaging the front face of the follower on opposite sides of the cavity, arcuate surfaces defined by the yoke adjacent its forwardly facing end, a collar rotatably received within the yoke and complementally arranged relative to said arcuate surfaces, said shank being telescoped within said striker and collar, the rear end of the shank having a spherical surface formed thereon entirely engaging the spherical cavity on the follower, apertures in the collar and shark, and a pin received within said apertures and non-rotatably connecting the shank to the collar.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 428,215 Leverick May 20, 1890 2,235,618 Larsson Mar. 18, 1941 2,282,146 Mealing et al. May 5, 1942 2,327,240 Barrows et al Aug. 17, 1943 2,645,362 Spence July 14, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,065,992 France Nov. 7, 1952 167,361 Switzerland May 1, 1934 

